Scaffold.



' PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

W. SIMS.

SGAFFOLD.

AIPLIOATION FILED NOV. a, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

um/"ion M17, 6mm

m'ziz'am l oi moses 1n: NORRIS PETERS co., wAsHnwm'oN, o. c:

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907 W. SIMS. SGAFFOLD. nyuoulou rum 11016, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

ms v a Mm atto'cnmp 1H: NDRR}? PETERS no. wAsumarou, n. c.

WILLIAM SIMS, OF ASHTON, MICHIGAN.

SCAFFOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

/ Application filed November 6,1906. Serial No. 342,281.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SIMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashton, in the county of Osceola and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a novel form of scaffold for use of mechanics in the construction, finishing or repairing of buildings or like structures, and which scaffold may be quickly erected or taken apart and which when set up will enable the mechanic to work with comparative safety and to raise or lower the staging to any required point. The scaffold being of such formation as to admit of the spars, standards or uprights being lengthened or shortened according to the height of the building for which the scaffold is designed.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold embodying the invention, showing the same set up for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a standard and the grapple cooperating therewith. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the grapple and slide. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the slide. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the staging and the supporting bracket therefor.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The scaffold comprises spars, standards or uprights 1, a staging 2, brackets 3, elevating means 4 and grappling devices for connecting the upper ends'of the spars or standards with a projecting part of the building or other structure for which the scaffold is intended to be used.

The spars, standards or uprights l are formed of a series of angle bars arranged in two pairs as illustrated in Fig. 2, the wing of one pair overlapping the wing of the other and arranged back to back so as to form two channel bars whereby to form two outstanding flanges adapted to be engaged by slides hereinafter mentioned. The overlapping members of the said bars are riveted together, thereby giving to the upright an approximately H-form in horizontal or transverse section. The angle bars are arranged to break joint, thereby. admitting of lengthening or shortening the spars as may be required.

Each spar or standard is provided with a foot, the same consisting of a plate 6 having a spur 7 which is adapted to penetrate the ground or other surface upon which the scaffold may be erected to prevent possible slipping of the lower ends of the spars or uprights.

Angle pieces 8 are bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 6 and to opposite sides of the central or body portion of the'spar. The plate 6 provides ample surface to prevent the lower end of the spar from sinking into the earth to any very great depth.

' The brackets 3 are approximately of triangle form, the vertical member 9 thereof being provided near each end with a slide 10 which embraces opposite flanges of a spar or upright so as to retain the bracket in place. Each slide 10 has opposite ends of hookform so as to embrace the oppositely extended flanges to which the slide is fitted, said slide in the preferable construction consisting of a plate having opposite ends inwardly bent and said plate being bolted or otherwise fastened to the vertical member of the bracket. A ring 11 is provided at the upper end of each bracket to receive the elevating means, such as the hook of the lower block of the hoisting tackle. The brackets are adapted to slide freely up and down upon the spars or standards 1 and are retained in place by the slots 10.

The staging 2 is supported upon the horizontal members of the brackets 3 and is retained in place by hook bolts 12 passed through openings in the horizontal portions of the brackets 3 and adapted to make positive engagement with a convenient portion of the staging. As shown, the staging consists of a board 13 and a ladder 14. As is usual in scaffolding, the board 13 is placed upon the ladder 14 which in turn is placed upon the supporting means which, as stated, consist of a horizontal member of the brackets 3. In order to admit of adapting the staging to the distance apart of the spars, yet provide for positive fastening of the staging, the hooked ends of the fastenings 12 are adapted to engage over the side pieces or ledges of the lad der 14.

A grapple is provided for the upper end of each spar or standard for securing the same to the gable of a roof or other projecting part or ledge of a building or other structure. As illustrated, each grapple consists of a slide 15, a bar 16 and hooks 17. The slides 15 are similar in construction to the slides 10 and embrace opposite Wings of the spars or standards. A slot 18 is formed in the base of each slide 15 and occupies a vertical position when the scaffold is erected. A semi-spherical projection 19 is provided upon the rear side of each slide 15 and is arranged so that the vertical slot 18 cccupies a medial position thereof. The bar 16 is formed with a socket 20 to snugly receive the projection 19.

A bolt 21 connects the two parts 15 and 16 in a manner to admit of the bar 16 moving to accommodate itself to the inclination of the gable or other projecting part to which the upper portions of the spars are connected. The outer ends of the bars 16 are reduced to form journals 22 upon which oppositely disposed hooks 17 are pivotally mounted to swing in planes at right angles to the bars and which hooks are normally drawn together by means of stout springs 23 of the contractile coil type. The hooks 17 are stout and their gripping ends are pointed so as to take a firm hold of the project ing part of the building or other structure to which the scaffold may be secured at its upper end.

The elevating means for the staging consist of ordinary block and tackle, one block being secured to the upper end of each spar or standard and the other block hooked to a bracket 3 and the hoisting rope being passed through the blocks and around the sheave pulleys thereof in the accustomed manner. i

From the foregoing it will be understood that the scaffold is of such construction as to be readily set up or quickly taken down, the spars or standards being of such construction as to admit of their lengthening or shortening according to the height of the building for which the scaffold is designed. After the spars are set up, they are made fast at their upper ends to a conveinent projecting part of the building or structure by means of the grapples as herein stated, it being understood that the brackets and grapples are fitted to the spars prior to their erection. The staging having been placed in position and the hoisting means connected to the spars and brackets, it will be understood that by proper manipulation of the operating ropes, the staging may be raised or lowered. To further add to the safety of the user, a rail 2-1 may be placed about the staging and connected thereto in any convenient way. As shown, the rail is supported by supplemental brackets 25 which are connected to the main brackets 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In scaffolding, the combination of an upright, a slide mounted to move thereon, a bar pivotally mounted on said slide to rock in a vertical plane, grappling hooks adapted for engagement with a portion of the building with which the scaffolding is to be used, said grappling hooks being mounted on said bar for rocking movement in planes at right angles to the rockingmovement of the bar, and staging supported by said upright.

12. In scaffolding, the combination of an upright, a slide thereon, a bar pivotally connected to the slide and adapted to rock in a vertical plane and provided at its ends with journal bearings, grappling hooks adapted to make positive engagement with a portion of the building with which the scaffolding is to be used, said hooks being mounted on the ends of said bar to turn in planes at right angles to the rocking movement of said bar, and staging supported by said upright.

In scaffolding, the combination of an upright, a slide fitted thereon, a bar pivoted intermediate of its ends to said slide and mounted to rock in a vertical plane thereon, the ends of said slide being formed with journal bearings, upper and lower grappling hooks adapted to make positive engagement with a portion of the building with which the scaffolding is used, said grappling hooks being,- pivoiaily journaled on the ends of said bar and movable in planes at right angles to the plane of movement of said bar, springs secured to said hooks and adapted to press said hooks together, and staging supported by said upright.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SIMS. [L. s.]

Witnesses 2 I'Inlvnr Swim, Anon: Swmr. 

